Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman E. Virgil Conway and MTA New York City Transit President Lawrence G. Reuter were joined by elected officials and community leaders in the dedication and reopening of the completely rebuilt Franklin Avenue Shuttle in central Brooklyn three months ahead of schedule.

MTA Chairman E. Virgil Conway today unveiled a 1.5-ton cast iron bald eagle that now adorns the new entrance to Grand Central Terminal. Joining him were Laurie Hawkes and Paul Grand Pre, the couple who donated the eagle to the MTA after discovering the sculpture in the yard of their Bronxville home.

The eagle, which was one of 12 that had perched atop the original Grand Central Terminal 1898, was removed in 1910. It ultimately came to rest on the grounds of collectors Ms. Hawkes' and Mr. Grand Pre's Westchester home.

"Yesterday Metro-North Railroad customers enjoyed their first day of full service following the disruptions caused by Tropical Storm Floyd last Thursday. As we predicted on Friday, we were able to fulfill our promise of returning full service on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines by Monday morning's rush hour. And again today, we had a good morning commute. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our Metro-North employees who worked tirelessly over the past few days, and Governor George E. Pataki, who provided us the additional resources of the National Guard.

The Dalai Lama's public talk in Central Park on Sunday is expected to draw thousands, and the MTA recommends using public transportation to get to the event.

The closest subways are the No. 6 to 96th Street and Lexington Avenue, the C to 96th Street and Central Park West, or the Nos. 1, 2, or 3 to 96th Street and Broadway. For subway and bus travel information, call (718) 330-1234.

For MTA Metro-North Railroad travel information within New York City, call (212) 532-4900, and from all other areas call (800) METRO-INFO.

MTA Chairman E. Virgil Conway today led the unveiling ceremony marking the installation of Penn Station's new "Talking Kiosk." Joining him were MTA Long Island Rail Road President Tom Prendergast and Jane Crotty, Director of Community Relations and Economic Development for Baruch College.

Designed for easy use and offering way-finding information to help a blind or visually impaired traveler navigate the station, the kiosk will be permanently installed in the LIRR terminal at Penn Station.

MTA Chairman E. Virgil Conway today accepted the Municipal Art Society's prestigious Certificate of Merit, which annually recognizes outstanding individuals, groups, and events that have made New York a more livable city, at a ceremony at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island.

The MTA was chosen for its revolutionary MetroCard fare collection system, and for its Subway Design Team, whose contributions have made vast aesthetic improvements to subway stations.

Using millions of brightly colored, shiny glass beads, Vanderbilt Hall will be transformed this summer into a perfect replica of suburban utopia when Liza Lou's "Back Yard" is installed by MTA Arts for Transit in its inaugural exhibition at the newly renovated Grand Central Terminal.

MTA Chairman E. Virgil Conway today announced the appointment of Peter A. Cannito, a 25-year transportation veteran, as President of MTA Metro-North Railroad.

Mr. Cannito most recently served as Vice President, Rail & Transit Programs at Raytheon Infrastructure Inc. from 1997 until present. Before joining Raytheon, he worked as an independent consultant performing project management services for ADTRANZ in the development of the Florida High Speed Rail Project, and in a technical advisory role to Arthur Andersen, LLP, on various studies for the Panama Canal Commission.

She replaces Michael Vaccari, who left to join a private law practice. Chairman Conway said, "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Mary Mahon into her new role at the MTA. We are very fortunate to have someone with her broad experience at both the MTA and in City matters filling this position."